Patrolman Birchfield was shot and killed by unknown subjects during an armed robbery investigation. He had been pulled into the investigation of a series of armed robberies and had been checking an area for suspects. He radioed in to dispatch that he was returning to headquarters.
A short time later a citizen called and informed officers there was an officer found slumped over his steering wheel near Bijou and El Paso Streets. Other officers raced to the scene and found Patrolman Birchfield had been shot to death. The case was never solved.
